Café Tropical — Restaurant in Los Angeles

I've been going to Cafe Tropical since around 2009. When I lived in Silver Lake from 2009-2012 I went every Saturday to get a bacon, egg and cheese croissant and cafe con leche. I looked forward to those Saturday mornings. When I moved out the neighborhood I would go if I were around to get the same or guava and cheese pastry or pastrami sandwich. They made the best pastrami sandwich in L.A. IMO. I always love the energy and that they had meetings next door, felt like a pillar in a ever-changing community. I've learned that to live in L.A. is to live with change of even your most precious places (RIP Cha Cha Cha).

Anyway, Cafe Tropical changed and it's hella cute, looks a lot like the Cuban place up the street near Millie's and I think they have the same owners. I love the pastry upgrades, and open space. I miss the colorful lanterns and money wall but thought they paid a nice homage to it in the new design. The coffee is still good, but man o man I miss the old bacon, egg and cheese sandwich. Maybe this is an actual Cuban style of the sandwich from other reviews I read about some changes but good is good. The new one is at best mediocre and not worth the price. Whoever changed this sandwich doesn't like bacon and cheese croissants. The old joint melded together beautifully, the bacon was hella good on its own and it was just perfect. It's now hella greasy somehow and all the ingredients feel separate if that makes sense. The cheese is different and tastes like rubber when you eat it alone. The bacon tastes weird, maybe that's part of the shortage but I've gotten better quality at Yummy's donuts. It just taste like matter. No love. I still go to Cafe Tropical for a coffee and dessert cause it's perfect for that and sitting, and if I'm right about it's relationship to the other Cuban spot up the street then the Cuban sandwiches are an upgrade and worth the cost IMO.

Recommend for cafe purposes.

Mourning the old bacon, egg and cheese...

I went to the owner for a solution before even considering a review, but his response was so weird, that here I am. I came here with a friend to grab breakfast. I ordered a latte and went to put in my sugar. I am a type one insulin dependent diabetic. There was just simple syrup or raw sugar available, with no sweetener substitute options. I tried to drink it without, but I just don’t like unsweetened coffee and it’s not normal to go somewhere that doesn’t provide at least one substitute. Meanwhile I ate my food, and it was delicious. Complements to the chef. Finally, I was like let me just go ask if he’d be willing to refund me so I can get a coffee from elsewhere because I really want a silly little coffee. He told me he didn’t want to provide sugar substitutes to people because he would have to provide all the different brands people like. I was like no brother, just one would suffice. Then I told him it would be best to have a sign that states they don’t have sweetener substitutes so folks could know before ordering. He then told me he doesn’t like his coffee sweet, so essentially I should be fine with having mine unsweetened lol. It wasn’t about the money for me, I didn’t really need the refund, and I just wanted him to provide a solution to the one hiccup in a great experience, but his response was just very uncommon and he did not provide a solution or provide a refund, offer another drink, etc. So if you’re diabetic, bring your own sweetener...

I came in early morning & apparently the door stayed open. I was carrying stuff & the sun was strong & shining through the door area. My skin it ultra sensitive to sun. & why I have a sun umbrella. so I went to the shady part of the cute looking cafe. The guy at the front immediately asked me to close the door that I unknowingly left open. He didn’t seem to ask in a friendly way either more in a manner of do this. I refused. In my 30 years of life I’ve never worked somewhere & requested a customer to do a task. Especially if a customer seems distressed or preoccupied. If you want it closed… as a customer carrying stuff in my hands it’s not my responsibility. Besides that…They only had pastries available. So my opinion of cafe tropical could have been redeemed if I ordered & enjoy the food… I came in hoping to get a sandwich or plantains & beans if they had it… but I was hoping for a sandwich. The 2nd guy of the cafe at least informed me those items were not Available until 8am & seem more personable. It’s a cute place but wish they had real food ready. Probably one of the more charming cafe environments. I ended up going to Gigi’s near by & got a delicious chicken Cuban style sandwich… Sooo good & blackbeans/rice & plantains available even at 7am….I wish I could merge the 2...